Dispenser with valve actuated by a deformable wall thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for the delivery of any type of product held in a reservoir with flexible and deformable wall. The device is essentially comprised of means (4) for the delivery of a product, which means are housed in a reservoir (2) with flexible and deformable wall (3) and which may be actuated by an outside pressure (F) exerted on the deformable wall of the reservoir. The device applies for example to the delivery and application of a cosmetic product on the skin or the nails.

The present invention has essentially as its subject a device fordispensing any product whatsoever contained in a container with adeformable wall.

Tubes forming a container with a deformable wall and susceptible ofcontaining any product whatsoever such as a paste which may be dispensedthrough an orifice under the effect of a pressure exerted upon the wallof the tube have been on the market for some time.

But such a dispensing device exhibits the disadvantage that the pressureexerted upon the tube is a random one and it often happens that the wallof the tube is damaged and may even become punctured thereby causingleaks of product.

Furthermore containers are known which may contain any productwhatsoever which may be dispensed by exerting a pressure upon amechanical means such, as for instance, a push-button outside of thewall or the container.

But such an external mechanical means is not without its disadvantages.Such a means indeed increases the bulkiness of the container, is veryoften detrimental to its aesthetic appearance and above all requires theprovision of a sealing system which is not always reliable. In additionsuch a sealing system increases the cost of the container and maypromote the seizing of the mechanical means controlling the dispensingof the product.

Therefore the present invention has as its object to overcome inparticular the disadvantages mentioned hereinabove by proposing a devicewhich raises no fluid-tightness problem and which allows the deliver ofany product whatsoever in an always reliable, precise manner measured inaccordance with the pressure applied.

For that purpose the invention has as its subject a device fordispensing any product whatsoever contained in a container with aformable wall and forming a part of a body provided with an orificeadapted to be closed and allowing the delivery of this product,characterized by means for controlling the dispensing of the product,accommodated in the container and operable by an outer pressure exertedupon the deformable wall of this container.

It is therefore understood that the pressure exerted externally upon thedeformable wall of the container will cause the delivery of the productthrough the medium of a control means housed inside of the container andallowing the positive and reliable delivery of a certain amount ofproduct corresponding in a very precise manner to the pressure exertedlaterally upon the wall of the container.

According to a first embodiment the aforesaid control means consists ofa sector-shaped part which is pivotally mounted in the container on asupport integral with the body and which co-operates with a rodactuating a valve susceptible of closing the aforesaid orifice.

The sector-shaped part pushes or pulls the rod against the force of atleast one return spring.

According to another characteristic of this device the sector-shapedpart is formed of two substantially parallel flanges between which isarranged one end of the aforesaid rod.

According to another embodiment the aforesaid control means isconstituted by a push-button disposed inside of the containerorthogonally to the axis of the body and meshing with a pinion which ismade fast to this body and which itself meshes with teeth carried by arod actuating a valve susceptible of shutting the aforesaid orifice.

According to still a further embodiment the aforesaid control means areconstituted by a movable yoke or U-shaped part the base of which issubstantially parallel to the wall of the container and the legs ofwhich are recessed so as to form a ramp co-operating with the end of arod passing between these legs and actuating a valve susceptible ofclosing the aforesaid orifice.

The aforesaid U-shaped part slides with its legs orthogonally to theaxis of the body in a support made fast to the body.

The supports of the embodiments described hereinabove are preferablymade fast to a head comprising the aforesaid orifice and valve and inwhich the aforesaid rod slides. The fact that the supports are made fastto the head advantageously facilitates the assembly of the differentparts of the device upon their being mounted.

Advantageously the valve comprises bristles forming a brush projectingfrom the aforesaid orifice which allows the product dispensed throughthe orifice to be applied onto any surface whatsoever such as the skinof the human body or the nails.

Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will be betterunderstood from the detailed description which follows and the annexeddrawings given by way of example only and in which:

FIG. 1 is diagrammatic view in axial section of a first embodiment ofthe device according to the principle of the invention and operating bythrust;

FIG. 2 is a view in section along the line II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view in axial section of a second embodiment ofthe device according to the invention and operating through pull;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic partial view in axial section of still anotherembodiment of the device according to the principle of the invention;and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view in axial section of still anotherembodiment of the dispensing device according to this inventionillustrated in open position for delivering a product.

Referring to the annexed drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, adispensing device according to this invention essentially comprises abody 1 forming a container 2 intended to contain any product whatsoeversuch as for instance a cosmetic product and consisting of a more or lessflexible, deformable and preferably elastic wall 3 upon which one mayexert an external and manual pressure along the arrow F so as to actuatemeans 4 for controlling the delivery of the product accommodated in thecasing 2.

The body 1 is provided with a head 5 provided with an orifice 6 for thedelivery of the product, the head 5 being connected to the wall 3 of thecontainer 2 by any suitable means such as screwing, crimping or moldingboth elements in one single piece.

According to the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 thecontrol means 4 is constituted by a sector-shaped part 7 which ispivotally mounted in the container 2 on a support 8 made fast to thehead 5. More precisely the sector 7 is pivotally mounted ar 9 to thesupport 9 by means of a small pin, for instance. This sector 7 may inthe case of the embodiment of FIG. 3 be formed of two flanges 7a leavingtherebetween a space the function of which will be explained later.

The part 7 co-operates with a rod 10 slidably mounted in the head 5 andcarrying a valve 11 made fast to one end of the said rod and susceptibleof closing the orifice 6.

The valve 11 may comprise bristles 12 forming in a way a brush forapplying the product contained in the casing 2. Instead of using a brushmade fast to the valve 11 one could equally use without departing fromthe scope of the invention a wick which would be made fast either tothis valve 11 or to the head 5 as shown on FIG. 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 opposite to the valve 11 the end of the rod10 bears upon the sector.

Thus, as will be appreciated when referring to FIG. 1, exerting lateralpressure upon the wall 3 of the container 2 along the arrow F, willcause a rocking of the member 7 and hence a thrust upon the rod 10 sothat the valve 11 will be disengaged from its seat 14 to allow thedelivery of a certain amount of product contained in the casing 2. Thethrust of the rod 10 is effected against the compression force of areturn spring 15.

Accordingly, by releasing the lateral pressure in a direction oppositeto that of the arrow F the sector-shaped member 7 will again assume itsposition visible in FIG. 1 wherein the valve 11 remains applied onto itsseat 14 thus closing the orifice 6.

Although not shown removable plug adapted to be set onto the head 5could be provided.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 is substantially identical with that of FIG. 1except that here external pressure upon the sidewall 3 of the container2 does not effect a thrust but a pull on the rod 10 carrying the valve11 and this against the force of the spring 15.

More precisely the end 16 of the rod 10 accommodated in the spacebetween the flanges 7a of the member 7 carries a small pin 17 retainedbetween these flanges.

As seen, one of the tops of the flanges 7a comprises a nose-shapedportion 13 likely to retain the small pin 17.

Also as seen in FIG. 3, the rod Iu includes a stop 18 susceptible oflimiting the stroke of this rod upon a pull so as to meter a certainamount of product issuing through the orifice 6. More precisely thisstop 17 under the effect of the pull of the rod 10 co-operates with thebase portion 19 for the connection or the head 5 to the container 2,which base portion comprises openings 20 for the passage of the productand a bearing 21 allowing the guided sliding of the rod 10. The stop 18upon closing the openings 20 advantageously controls delivery of theproduct issuing through said openings.

According to the alternative embodiment of FIG. 4 the means 4 forcontrolling the delivery of the product contained in the casing 2essentially comprises a push-button disposed inside of this containerorthogonally to the axis of the body 1 and meshing with a pinion 23which is made fast to this body and which meshes with teeth 24 carriedby the rod 10 actuating the valve 11. The pinion teeth gear ratio is ofcourse selected in a suitable manner for adjusting the stroke of the rod10.

Diagrammatically shown at 25 are elements for guiding the push-button 22and the roll 10 which is also slidably mounted in the head 5, it beingunderstood that as in the previous embodiments that the valve 11 carriedby the rod 10 is accommodated in the head 5 and is constantly biased bya spring 15.

The operation follows straightforwardly from the foregoing description.

By a thrust along the arrow F upon the wall 3 of the container 2 thepush-button 22 is actuated which through the medium of the pinion 23makes the rod 10 move downwards against the force of the return spring15 so that the valve 11 is disengaged from its seat 14, seen in FIG. 4.

By releasing the pressure along the arrow F the spring 15 will bring thevalve 11 back onto its seat 14 thereby causing the rotation of thepinion 23 in the reverse direction and therefore the placing of thepush-button 22 back to its position near the inner wall of the container2 so that the apparatus will be ready for a new delivery of product bypressing again upon the sidewall of the container according to the arrowF.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the means 4 for operatingthe rod 10 is essentially constituted by a movable yoke or U-shaped part26 the base 27 of which is substantially parallel to the wall 3 of thecontainer 2 and both legs 28 of which each define a recess 29 forming aramp 30 co-operating with a small cross pin 31 made fast to the end ofthe rod 10 opposite to that carrying the valve 11.

The U-shaped member 26 is slidably mounted with its legs 28 orthogonallyto the axis of the body 1 in a support 8 in the form of a polygonalsleeve through which is formed an elongated transverse opening 32slidably receiving and guiding the member 26.

In operation, an external pressure upon the flexible and deformable wall23 of the container 2 according to the arrow F as viewed in FIG. 5 willactuate the member 26 transversely which will cause, owing to the ramp30, the displacement of the rod 10 against the force of the returnspring 15 so that the valve 11 will be disengaged from its seat 14 andsome products will be dispensed through the orifice 6 of the head 5.

Upon releasing the pressure according to the arrow F, under the effectof the force of the spring 15, the small pin 31 will move downwardsalong the ramp 30 so that the valve 11 will close the orifice 6, itbeing understood that the base 27 of the U-shaped member 26 will followthe wall 3 of the container 2 in its deformation. Hence the apparatuswill be ready for a new delivery and/or applying of the product.

The invention is of course not at all limited to the embodimentsdescribed and illustrated which have been given by way of example only.

Thus the material constituting the body of the apparatus may be of anysuitable compositions such as polyethylene, as can be the variousmembers of the control mechanism inside of the container, it beingunderstood that in this respect a synthetic material will be preferred.Likewise the configuration of the sector-shaped part may be any oneappropriate with the viscosity of the product contained in thecontainer. This part may also have any suitable shape whatsoever at itsportion which will be in contact with the inner wall of the containerwhen one exerts a pressure upon the outside of this container fordispensing some product.

It should also be noted that in some embodiments such as those shown onFIGS. 3, 4 and 5 the applying end constituted by the brush, the wick orthe like may penetrate into the inside of the head 5 from the retractionof the rod 10. This offers the advantage of promoting the impregnationof the applying end by the product. Moreover, the device according tothis invention is particularly suitable to the delivery of visquousliquids such as for example nail varnish. In this respect one may use asa material constituting the deformable and elastic wall of the body 1 acomposite plastics material such as that known under trade name "SELARRB" available at KAUTEX WERKER, Bonn (German Federal Republic) and whichis consistent with the solvent used in the formula of the nail varnishand which is also impervious to the vapors of these solvents.

I claim:
 1. A dispenser for the delivery of a product, comprising:acontainer for containing the product, the container having a deformablesidewall and a selectively open and closeable orifice through which theproduct may be delivered; a rod having a valve at one end, the rod beingmovable from a first position in which the valve is in engagement withthe orifice to close the same to a second position in which the valve isout of engagement with the orifice and the orifice is open; asector-shaped part pivotally mounted in the container for moving the rodby camming action from the first position to the second position onpivoting of the sector-shaped part in a first direction, thesector-shaped part being pivoted in the first direction by lateraldeformation of the sidewall resulting from lateral pressure beingapplied to only one side of the wall; and a spring connected to the rodfor returning the rod to the first position upon removal of the lateralpressure.
 2. A dispenser as in claim 1 in which the sector-shaped partis arranged relative to the rod such that the sector-shaped part onpivoting in the first direction pushes the rod from the first positionto the second position thereof.
 3. A dispenser as in claim 1 in whichthe sector-shaped part is arranged relative to the rod such that itpulls the rod from the first to the second position upon pivoting of thesector-shaped part in the first direction.
 4. A dispenser as in claim 3in which the sector-shaped part is formed of two substantially parallelflanges and the end of the rod opposite the end at which the valve islocated is positioned between said flanges.
 5. The dispenser of claim 1,in which the sector-shaped part is pivoted on a support element fixedlyconnected to the container.
 6. The dispenser of claim 5, in which thecontainer has a head portion, the orifice is located in the head portionand the support element is fixedly connected to the head portion.
 7. Thedispenser of claim 1 further including bristles forming a brushconnected to the valve and projecting from the orifice.
 8. A dispenserfor the delivery of a product, comprising:a container for containing theproduct, the container having a sidewall, a longitudinal axis and aselectively openable and closeable orifice through which the product maybe delivered; a rod having teeth disposed thereon and a valve at one endthereof for closing and opening the orifice, the rod being movable inthe direction of the longitudinal axis of the container from a firstposition in which the valve is in engagement with the orifice to closethe same a second position in which the valve is out of engagement withthe orifice and the orifice is open; a push button disposed inside of acontainer orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the container, thepush button having a pinion fixed thereto and in mesh with the teeth ofthe rod so that upon lateral deformation of the sidewall of thecontainer, the push button moves laterally to cause the pinion to movethe rod from the first position thereof to the second position.
 9. Adispenser for the delivery of a product, comprising:a container forcontaining the product, the container having a deformable sidewall, alongitudinal axis and a selectively openable and closeable orificethrough which the product may be delivered; a U-shaped member having abase and a pair of legs, each of which has an opening defining a ramp; arod having a valve at one end thereof, the other end of the rodextending between and through the openings of the legs of the U-shapedmember in engagement with the ramps thereof, the rod being movable inthe direction of the longitudinal axis from a first position in whichthe valve is in engagement with the orifice and the orifice is closed toa second position in which the valve is out of engagement with theorifice and the orifice is open; and the U-shaped member being movableupon deformation of the sidewall by the exertion of lateral pressurethereon to cause the rod to move by camming action from its firstposition to the second position thereof.
 10. The dispenser of claim 9,further including a support fixedly connected to the container forslidably supporting the U-shaped member with the legs thereof orthogonalto the longitudinal axis of the container.